San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-02-18
ApJurANT GENERAL KINGS REPORT.


Some Points that Deserve the Attention
of the Local Militia and Citizens.
Adjutant General King has made re-
port 10 Washington upon the Texas MI
litia, and it is complimented In military
circles as being the best and most ex-
plicit report ever made by any militia
general. The LIGHT has not space for
the publication Of a verbatim copy OF
the report, but II publishes the follow
ing pertinent extracts, believing that
they will interest the local militia and
be appreciated by the citizens.
Writing OF the difficulties OF properly
organizing the militia, General King OBJ
serves:
IL seems almost impossible to induce
members Of the legislature 10 give this
question an examination sufficient to en-
able them to appreciate the reasons for
any sort OF militia organization beyond
ABoYIsH SHOW
OF brass buttons, gold lace and
ostrich plumes, aud these to be ex-
hibited at intervals simply for the fun OF
the thing, and without any cost to the
state under any circumstances. The idea
that the state militia Is, or was, ever
intended for anything like real use
anything but holiday amusements-
seems never to have been seriously en-
tertained by legislators, and to ask for
or suggest an appropriation sufficient TO
render the militia reasonably efficient,
is often taken as a reproach to the In
telligence and patriotism Of the legisla-
ture. This strange Indifference is hard
TO meet and nearly impossible 10 over
come, and has been attempted to be ac-
counted for In many ways, but no rea-
son yet given can fully explain 1t, espe-
cislly In the face Of the pressing de-
mands that have been made several
times In the last two years for the pres
ence and services of militiamen, and Of
the patriotic promptness, zeal and cOur-
age with which every military OrgaDiza.
ton responded when called out for ser
vice. The first report l had the
honor Of making as adjutant-
general of the state OF Texas, ex-
bibited what appeared to be large
and imposing organization OF active
militia, but a little acquaintance with
it's make up showed 1t to be practic-
ally
AHUGR SKELETON,
mere bundle OF bones-without nerves,
muscles, blood vessels, or means OF
nourishment or looomOtiOn. A large
number of companies organized and
armed, and vet but small per centum
of them ever meeting, drilling, or pay
ing the slightest attention to the re-
quirements Of the military Jaw. Some
OF the city companies were In good con-
condition. comparatively, and could
have been made serviceable In an emer-
gency, but many of the interior COM
panies existed on paper only, and could
not probably have been got together In
week, and when together could have
render.d no united, efficient service rs
an organization, however much individ-
ual courage the members might have
shown"
General King sizes up the situation
very accurately, and w lie bis remarks
NAV not be appreciated by the legisla-
tura, the public will heartily endorse
them.
The general, In his report, alludes to
the service of the local militia on The
Rio Grande and at Fort Worth. or the
Laredo difficulty, he says:
The presence of these officers and
troops, and the measures adopted In
connection with the prompt,
PATRIOTIC AND JUDlCIoUs CONDUCT
or Col. X. F. Bernard, major of the
Eighth United s stes Cavalry, In COM
mand OF Fort Mcintosh, at Laredo, pre-
vented any further outbreak or contest.
The fearless and manly conduct OF Col.
Bernard in assuming, before the arrival
of any state troops, a grave and official
Iy dangerous responsibility in the inter-
ests of peace and good order, cannot be
too highly commended; and in all proba-
bility his spirited conduct saved Laredo,
before the arrival of the state troops,
from heavy loss Of life and property"
This Is neat compliment, and all the
more forcible because it was well de.
served.